Do you have Arc Fault turned on? The TIGO optimizers trigger the arc fault on my Sol-Arks. I monitor 3 Sol-Ark systems. The 2 with optimizers frequently trigger arc fault. The one with basic TIGO RSD does not have this problem.
Sol-Ark new optimizer
- Thread starter rfm51
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Lt.Dan
Solar Wizard
I do have Arc Fault on, and it does not trip anything.
Thankyou for the reply. Makes me wonder why I have this issue. No batteries?????
Lt.Dan
Solar Wizard
I'm not sure, but the manual says it can be tripped with lightning strikes nearby as well. I wonder if Sol-Ark can remote in and see what is actually tripping it?
Does it trip immediately after you activate the option in the settings? Or is it random afterwards?
It's random and almost everyday, unless it's overcast. It happens mid day +/- an hour or two. I can't be sure, but to me it's caused by tree shading or changing clouds. The 2 systems with optimizers were activated early November. Right now is the worst time for tree shading. I asked Sol-Ark, but off course they just concluded that it's a wiring fault.
Lt.Dan
Solar Wizard
Have you confirmed it's not a wiring problem? Faulty MC4 connection? Proper grounding?
Weird that shading could be causing this. I wonder if there is even a faulty panel? Highly unlikely in 2 installs though
The installer was back to replace one defective optimizer and he was confident that it's not a wiring fault. A wiring fault on both systems would have a lower probability. If I clear the arc fault, I would expect it to reoccur soon after if it's a wiring fault and not a day or two later.
Hedges
I See Electromagnetic Fields!
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Optimizers are SMPS, PWM pulsing into an inductor.
They will create conducted emissions with a fundamental and harmonics.
Given enough frequency-domain processing power, that would be distinguishable from the random noise of arcs.
SMPS need filtering to suppress EMI.
It is OK to put filters on AC wires of an inverter, but NOT on PV wires where that would "blind" AFCI to arcs.
I wonder if anybody has evaluated whether optimizers (with decent filtering of their noise) block arc-fault signals from reach AFCI, thereby defeating it? (The order of UL testing determines outcome?)
When AFCI and PWM are implemented in the same device, one approach would be to look for noise during the dead time between each switching. Remote device like optimizer doing the switching, that approach isn't possible. Dozens of optimizers, that many more randomly placed edges.
Outside interference (RF, etc.) could also be detected. AFCI needs to discriminate well enough.
I read that early AFCI implementations by SMA were having too much nuisance tripping, installers preferred other brands.
Sensitivity may be adjustable.
I wonder if Sol-Ark is struggling with making their optimizer work with their Arc Fault detector. They can and do shrug off issues with TIGO as being wire fault. That's not going to fly when it's their optimizer. Sol-Ark signed off on the basic TIGO RSD, but not the models that work with TPA and CCA.
I hope that's the case and they create a different arc fault algorithm for the inverters.
Lt.Dan
Solar Wizard
What do you mean they didn't sign off on the modules that work with TPA and CCA? Its in their manual.
EDIT: Its the TS4-A-O
Okay, but this is what I meant by sign off.
Lt.Dan
Solar Wizard
I understand now.
The attached was also from over 3 years ago, and the 15k isn't even on there (because it hadn't been released yet). I wonder if there is an updated cert?
jmacdonald077
New Member
Is the Sol-Ark inverter that is tripping the one with EMP protection? Or just the standard package
My installer said his distributor could get them for my project this spring. So I told him to risk buy them immediately. That caused the availability to magically disappear.
These appear to be vaporware despite the fact that they should just be a rebadged OEM part. My guess is that they are failing some regulatory hurdle. They've been advertised for well over a year and the availability date just keeps getting pushed out.
I cut bait and am going to use Tigos. I hate the idea of more wireless comms; I hate the idea of a yet another (PAID!) cloud service; I hate the idea of a closed, proprietary system. But I don't seem to have a choice.
Yikes. Thanks for the update & hoping this changes soon.
Is the cloud subscription required? I thought there was a way around that.
TIGO offers a premium monitoring service. It provides 1 minute data resolution and panel current and voltage. There's no charge for basic monitoring.
hpeyerl
New Member
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Advertised "1 minute data resolution" but they've been having trouble with their servers for apparently going on 3 yrs now and they keep promising they're updating their server infrastructure and keep pushing the date further to the right. So even people who are paying for the cloud service are having trouble getting their data within 4 hours.
Not to mention how despicable it is to be forced (by threat of reduced warranty coverage) to upload YOUR data and then have to pay to download YOUR data in a timely fashion.
hpeyerl
New Member
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People are reverse engineering the firmware on the Tigo CCA and have figured out how to get their data off the device without using the 'cloud'. Tigo keeps pushing firmware updates to close the holes. https://github.com/rp-/tigo-exporter/tree/master
Quattrohead
Emperor Of Solar
Seems like Sol-ark are having some serious growing issues along with more competitors getting into their market space.
Over a year now and apparently no closer to seeing their optimizer hitting the streets.
Over a year now and apparently no closer to seeing their optimizer hitting the streets.
Yeah, recently I can't get any data before 1 pm. I also see dead spaces for 5 minutes without 1 minute resolution. I have the premium service. Rather pathetic.
This is awesome. I was also going to see what the comms between the TPA and CCA looked like.
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